Game.



W. F. GARAUGHTY.l

GAME.

APPLICATION man ocT.2.1914.

` 1,146,242. Patentedlulyl, 1915.

WILLIAM F. GARAUGHTY, or COLUMBUS, onto.

GAME.

Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented uly 13,1915.

Applcationyled October 2, 1914. Serial No. 864,629.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. GAR- AUGHTY, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Columbus, in the county of Frankp lin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention is in the nature of a game and relates particularly to games played upon the average pool table.

The main object of my invention resides in the provision of a game of this type wherein the pocketing of anumber of balls operates in a manner to complete an electric circuit, the object being, of course, to complete this circuit as soon as possible. To make the game more interesting, I have so arranged the structure that all of the pockets are equipped with switches, together with connections between these switches, the arrangement of the connections and switches being such that the closure of certain of these switches forming a lesser number than the total number of pockets completes the circuit.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of an arrangement whereby the combination of switches forming this circuit may be changed at will and in this manner be unknown to the players participating. i

Another object of my invention takes the form of an indicating means for indicating to the players when the circuit is completed which would also mean the termination of the game. Y

|The preferred embodiment yof my inven tion is shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view inperspective of a well known type of pool table with my invention applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one of the pocket switches used by me,` this switch being shown as located in the pocket, Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2, andl Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring for connecting up the game.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designatesa pool table to which my game is applied, this pool table being provided with the usual number of pockets 2. As is well known, these pockets are usually provided with bags 3 made out of a mesh work of cords, braiding, etc. The bottom of each. of these pockets is further provided with a ferrule 4 and it is by meansof this ferrule that I preferably mount my pocket switch members. These pocket switches comprise a semi-spherical member 5, each provided with a centrally disposed headed screw 6, which screw passes through the ferrule mentioned and is rigidly held in position by means of a nut 7. Each semi-spherical member 5 is also provided with two superposed switch arms 8 and 9, these arms being preferably of a resilient nature and being attached at one end as is shown. The arm 9 is illustrated as being held in position by a screw 10, while the arm 8 is held in mounted position by means of the screw 6, its contacting end being slightly bent upwardly to be out of engagenient with the semi-spherical member 6. These switch arms are made of material sufficiently resilient to permit their engage` f ment by the weight of a ball thereon and the purpose of the peculiar manner in which they are attached is to force the arm 9 down upon the arm 8 and in turn to force this arm Sinto engagement with the semi-spherical member 5. This causes a slight movement of the arm 9 along the surface of the `arm 8 and consequently,when the circuit is broken by removing the ball, the end yof the arm 9 will again slide on the end ofthe arm 8 before it is completely out of. engagement. The breaking of the circuit may be accompanied by a slight spark, but this spark will then not carbonize on the surface of the arm 8 which forms the effective Contact.

In order that'the combination of pockets forming the completed circuit may be .altered at will, I have provided a master switch arrangement shown as the three snap switches 11, 12 and 13. To further provide an indicating means for giving an indication when the circuit is completed, I have fprovided the buzzer 14, this buzzer, the master switches, and the pocket switches being all connected to abattery 15 in the manner to be now described.`

In the diagram shown in Fig. 4, the pockets are indicated by the numerals 1 to 6 inclusive and it will be noted that the battery 15 and buzzer 14 are `connected by means of the wire 16. Each` switch "11,12 and 18 is shown as being of the four-point type, two points of which are connected together by the wires 17. The buzzer 14 is connected to one point of switch number 11 by means of the wire 18 and from this point a wire 19 leads to one of vthe arms forming the pocket switch in pocket number 1. The opposite terminal of this pocket switch is connected to switch number 11 by the wire 20 which leads to a second switch point, while the remaining two switch points are connected to the terminals of pocket number 2 by means of the wires 21 and 22. One point of switch number 11 is also connected through the medium of wire 23 to one point of switch number 12. This latter point is then connected by the wire 24 to one terminal of the switch in pocket number 3, while the remaining terminal is connected to another point of switch 12 by a wire 25. Wires- 26 and 27 lead from the remaining two points of switch 12 to the terminals of the switch in pocket number 4, while one point of switch number 12 is also connected to one point of switch number 13 by a wire 28. The two points of this last named master switch are also connected to the terminals of the switch in pocket number 5 by wires 29 and 30, while the terminals of the switch in pocket number 6 are connected to the remaining two points of the master switch by wires 31 and 32. rIhis last named master switch 13 instead of being directly connected with one point of switch number 11 is indirectly connected thereto through the battery 15 by means of a wire 33. The diagram shown is wired so that when a ball is deposited in pockets number 1, 3 and 5, the circuit is completed through the buzzer 14 to give an audible indication. These balls are indicated by the small solid lines 34 shown in Fig. 4. `When the balls are deposited in these threel pockets, a circuit is established from the battery 15 through the wire 16, buzzer 14, wires 18 and 19, through pocket switch number 1, wires 20 and 17, arm of master switch number 11, wires 23 and 24, through the pocket switch in pocket number 3, wires 25 and 17 through the arm of master switch number 12, wires 28 and 29 through the pocket switch in pocket number 5, through wires 30 and 17, through the arm of master switch number 13 and back to the battery by wire number 33. The balls can be deposited in any or all of the remaining pockets without destroying the circuit and this circuit will further not be established until there is a ball in each of the pockets number. 1, 3 and 5, no matter whether the pockets number 2, 4 and 6 contain a ball or not. As an example, it may be assumed that pocket number 2 also contains a ball, thus closing this switch. In this event, current will not flow through pocket switch number 2 unless number 1 is occupied. It number 1 is occupied, the current may iiow through wires 19 and 20 and over the regular route to master switch lnumber 12. A portion of the current may also flow through wire 21, switch in pocket number 2 and return to master switch 11 by wire 22. It will thus be apparent that current will not flow through the master switch number 11 unless there is a ball in pocket number 1. rlhe same condition holds true if the arm of one of the master switches or each of the master switches is turned to the reverse position from that shown in F ig. 3.

It will thus be apparent that I have provided la structure forming the foundation of a very interesting game and one in which this interest may be kept up by changing the combination of master switches after each game.

What I claim, is:

1. In combination with a pool table, a game comprising a series of electric switch members in the pockets of said table, and connections between the various pocket switches, said switches and connections being arranged that a closure of certain of the pocket switches will form a complete circuit.

2. In combination with a pool table, a game comprising electric switch members in the pockets of said table arranged to be closed by the weight of a ball, and connections between the various pocket switches, said switches and connections being arranged that a closure of a predetermined number of said rswitches by the pocketing of a corresponding number of balls will form a complete circuit.

3.. In combination with a pool table, a game comprising electric switch members in the pockets of said table arranged to be closed by the weight of a ball, connections between the various pocket switches, said switches and connections being arranged that a closure of a vpredetermined number of said switches by the pocketing of a corresponding number of balls will form a complete circuit, and means for changing the combination of switches for forming a complete circuit.

4. In combination with a pool table, a game comprising electric switch members in the pockets of said table arranged to be closed by the weight of a ball, connections between the various pocket switches, said switches and connections being arranged that a closure of a predetermined number of said switches by. the poclreting of a corresponding number of balls will form a complete circuit, means for changing the combination of switches for forming a complete circuit, and indicating means for giving an indication when the circuit is completed.

5. In combination with a pool table, a game comprising electric switch members in the pockets of said table arranged to be closed by the weight of a ball, connections between the various pocket switches, said pocket switches and connections being arranged that a closure of a predetermined number of said switches by the pocketing of a corresponding number of balls will form a complete circuit, a series of master switches, operation of which will change the combination of pocket switches to form a complete circuit, and a buzzer arranged to be in circuit with all of the combinations of pocket switches to give an audible indica# tion when the circuit is complete.

6. In combination with a pool table, a game comprising semi-Spherical members in the pockets of said table, superposed resilient contact arms for each member normally out of engagement with each other but arranged to engage each other by the weight of a ball, connections between the various pocket switches formed by said arms, said pocket switches and connections being arranged that a closure of a predef termined number of said switches by the pocketing of a corresponding number of balls will form a complete circuit, a series of master switches, operation of which will change the combination of pocket switches to form a complete circuit, and a buzzer arranged to be in circuit with all of the combinations of pocket switches to give an audible indication when the circuit is complete.

In testimony whereof I aihx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. GARAUGHTY. Witnesses:

WALTER E. L. BooK, A. L. PHELPs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

